April 17, 2017

Doleman
played as a linebacker and DE in college and was chosen by the Vikings in the first
round of the 1985 NFL draft. Initially utilized as an outside linebacker, he
was shifted to defensive end in a 3-4 alignment, making the most of his
strength and speed as a pass rusher. He registered 11 sacks in 1987, earning
his first Pro Bowl berth. Foleman followed up with 8 sacks in ’88 and another
Pro Bowl selection.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in all
16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 21 [1]

Most sacks,
game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 12/25

Multi-sack
games – 7

Interceptions
– 0

Fumble
recoveries – 5

Forced
fumbles – 5

Tackles – 94

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at San
Francisco)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions
– 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 10-6
to finish first in the NFC Central while leading the NFL in sacks (71) and fewest
passing yards allowed (2501). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to San Francisco
49ers (41-13).

Aftermath:

Doleman
dropped to 11 sacks in 1990 and 7 in 1991. He bounced back to 14.5 sacks in
1992. Following a 12.5-sack year in ’93 he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. Unhappy
in Atlanta, Doleman recorded 16 sacks in two seasons before moving on to the
San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in 1996. He improved to 11 sacks and four
forced fumbles in ’96 and followed up with 12 sacks in 1997 and 15 in 1998. Doleman
returned to the Vikings in 1999, recording 8 sacks in his last season at age
38.Overall he was credited with 150.5 sacks, 96.5 which occurred while with
Minnesota. Doleman was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice twice and was
chosen to eight Pro Bowls. Doleman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of
Fame, Class of 2012.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories: